Bias cutting and fabric stripping machine



NOV. 22, F J O K BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE 14 Sh ts-Sheet 1 {1/ Y J I WATTOR Y5 Filed Aug. 24. 1929 Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVE 5R M AT ORNEYS Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENT OR ATTORNEY? Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENT OR Q1 8 \3 V v. V B

F. J. SHOOK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 22, 1932.

Filed Aug. 24. 1929 Nov. 22, 1932. F. .1. SHOOK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVE 0R Nov. 22, 1932. F J, SHOCK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 7 g Fr/ g 2 J5 j .41?

% f 1 l m- Nov. 22, 1932. F. .1. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24. 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 22, 1932. F. .J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE l4 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Aug. 24, 1929 Nov. 22, 1932. F, J. SHOOK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 11 n-ug s q N I N VEN TOR.

ATfORNEYf NOV. 22, 1932. J, SHOOK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 1,4 Sheets-Sheet 12 I N VEN TOR.

\ BY 9 [M AT ORA'EY;

Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE sheets-sneet 1:

Filed Aug. 24. 1929 1%VENTOR.

ATT RNEYI Nov. 22, 1932. F. J. SHOOK 1,888,744

BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1929 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 n /M 44 WM/ A TTORN Y Patented Nov. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLORIAN J. SHOCK, 0F AKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 SEIBER-LING RUBBER COMPANY,

I A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BIAS CUTTING AND FABRIC STRIPPING MACHINE Application filed August 24, 1929. Serial No. 388,195.

The present invention relates to improvements in machines for cutting fabric materials on the bias, and has for its general object to provide a machine of this character which will be simple in construction, efiicient in operation, strong and durable'in service, and economical in material and labor.

According to one feature of the invention, the improved machine is equipped with a horizontally disposed endless belt conveyor which is intermittently operated to advance the fabric sheet material (such as rubberized fabric used in tire manufacture), step by step and without tension, from a stock supply roll to a cutting position whereit is cut diagonally by a rotary power-driven cutter. This cutter is mounted upon a carriage which is reciprocable on a frame or guide overlying the endless belt conveyor and extending transversely thereof at the desired angle, the frame being adjustable at will to vary the angle of the cut. The carriage is caused to reciprocate by power mechanism including a manually controlled clutch whereby the driving connection may be made or broken, as and when desired. At the cutting line, the fabric passes over a resilient metal strip or bar which is associated with the adjustable frame and which extends across the conveyor immediately above the upper surface thereof. This strip or bar facilitates the traversing movement of the cutter and protects the endless belt as well. A guide shoe is also mounted on the carriage and has a bifurcated port? on straddling the lower edge of the cutter, this shoe being wedge shaped and adapted to slide under the fabric with the aid of the resilient metal strip, and to lift the fabric against the cutter during the cutting stroke of the carriage. On the return stroke of the carriage, the guide shoe passes over the fabric, leaving the same free to be fed forwardly preparatory to the next cut.

The feeding movement of the conveyor is effected automatically during the return stroke of the carriage. For this purpose a pressure cylinder, with a piston, is mounted at one side of the conveyor for moving a crosshead which carries a pawl or dog for engagement with a sprocket chain operative with the endless belt. The admission and exhaust of fluid pressure toand from the opposite ends of the cylinder are controlled by a slide valve which is moved in one direction by the crosshead, and in the other direction by a separate piston in a pneumatic cylinder. Movement of the last-mentioned piston is controlled by a valve which is actuated by the carriage at the end of its cutting stroke. In addition to this automatic feed of the conveyor, a hand wheel is provided whereby the endless belt may be adjusted manually when required to determine accurately the line of the next cut.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of novel means for stripping 65 the fabric from its liner as the fabric is fed to cutting position. Due to the firm surface union between the rubberized sheet and the liner with which it is wound, considerable force is necessary to separate them, and experience has shown that this can best be done in short quick jerks. For this purpose, therefore, the liner and the fabric sheet are drawn from the stock roll past an idler separating roller arranged between the two sheets and which causes them to diverge as they are unwound. The liner is wound up on an arbor or the like, while the rubberized fabric is guided over the liner wind-up roll and delivered to the conveyor ofthe bias cutter. Theliner wind-up roll is adapted to be rotatecl,'step by step, by a ratchet and pawl, the latter being actuated by a continuously operated power shaft. It is desirable however thatthe sheet separation be coordinated or substantially synchronized. with the bias cutting operations, so that an amount of separated stock greatly in excess of that required will not be drawn off the stock roll. Tlrere is therefore associated with the pawl andratchet device a saddle member whichisgdapted, in one position, to hold the pawl out of its operative engagement with the ratchet, and in another position to allow it to engage. The position of the saddle member is automatically controlled by a floating roller with which it is connected, said roller being supported by a slack portion of the separated rubberized fabric. As the amount of slack varies, the height of the roller will vary, and

such variations will be transferred to the saddle member to automatically engage and disenga e the pawl and ratchet.

The oregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will be fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein the invention has been shown by wa of illustration, and wherein,

ig. 1 is a front side elevation of the improved machine;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the bias cutter proper;

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of F ig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front side view showlng the conveyor feed mechanism on a larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken on line 55 of Fig. 4, with parts broken away;

Fig- 6 is a view partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section, showing the control valve for the conveyor feed;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views similar to Fig. 6, with the parts in different positions;

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

F ,ig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the conveyor feed mechanism;

Fig. 12 is an end view of the cutter-can riage and its driving ,means taken from the rear side of the machine;

Fig. 13 is a front view of the parts shown in Fig. 12, with -"parts of the conveyor in section;

F ig.-14 is a detail view of the shift-able motor sup ort, the view being taken on line 1414.- of ig 13;

. Fig. 15 is a rear view Fi 12;

ig. 16 is' a detail view, partly in section,

of the carriage-controlled master valve for the conveyor feed mechanism;

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of arating mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, showing the novel actuating means for the liner wind-up arbor;

Fig. 19 is a front view of the mechanism of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a side view of the same mechanism with parts broken away and parts in section;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the same parts, showing the pawl in its disengaged position;

Fig. 22 is a side elevation of a modified form of sheet separator; and

Fig. 23 .is an end view of the same.

Referring to the drawings:

The'improved bias cutting machine comprises a fixed main frame 10, having spaced parallel side rails 11, and supporting standof the parts shown in the sheet separds or legs 12, and a supplementary frame 13, which extends transversely over the main frame 10 and is adjustable angularly with reference thereto.

The supplementary frame 13 (see particularly Figs. 1, 2 and 3) comprises mounting I brackets 14, arranged one at each side of the main frame and secured to the respective side rails 11, said brackets serving to adjustably support a pair of vertically spaced structural steel channel members 15 and 16, the former of which is spaced slightly above the main frame side rails, and the arrangement being such that the supplementary frame 13 is disposed diagonally or obliquely with reference to the main frame. The channel members 15 and 16 are connected together at their opposite ends, by spacing brackets 17 and 18, which respectively support sprocket wheels 19 and 20, the relations and functions of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Also supported above the main frame 10, by extensions 21 of the leg members 12, is a horizontal table 22 having side rails 23 in which are journaled spaced shafts 24 and 25 (see also Fig. 4). Pulleys 26 and 27 are secured to the shafts 24 and 25 for the operation of an endless belt conveyor 28, the upper stretch of which is disposed immediately above the table 22. -A sprocket chain 29 is mounted at one side of the conveyor 28 and adapted for movement therewith, and a hand wheel 30 is secured to the shaft 25 whereby the conveyor may be adjusted manually by mu the attendant of the machine. Ordinarily, the conveyor will be advanced automatically by mechanism which will later be described, supplemented bythe hand operation, and as it is thus operated intermittently, a rubberized fabricsheet A is fed forwardly from a stock supply to a cutting position below the supplementary frame 13.- The fabric sheet material to be cut lie upon the belt conveyor 28 and is fed without tension, and as it reaches the cutting position, it is caused to pass over a separator bar 31 whereby it is raised sli htly from the conveyor belt (see Fig. 3). his separator bar 31 is preferably in the nature of a thin flat strip of resilient metal which is slightly inclined in a transverse direction, and extends entirely across the main frame parallel with the channel bar 15. It is secured by means of screw yokes 32 to extension plates 33 on the spacing brackets 17 and 18, so that it can be adjusted with-said-frame to cut the material'at different desired angles.

Mounted for reciprocation on the channel member15 is a carriage 34, which comprises a substantially horizontal portion 35 and de-" lift) pending flange portions 36 and 37, respectively disposed at opposite sides of the chanflange portions 36 and 37 and hear on the upturned flanges at the longitudinal edges of the channel member 15, thus facilitating movement of the carriage. A rotary cutter 39 is secured to one end of a shaft 40, which is journaled in the lower ends of the flange portions 36 and 37, the shaft being driven by a belt and pulley arrangement 42 from an electric motor 43 on the carriage portion The rotary cutter 39 is preferably formed of a thin circular metallic disc having its periphery sharpened to a knife edge and provided with inwardly extending radial notches or incisions which form teeth. It has been found that a cutter of this character does not become gunimed, and is therefore more effective than a plain circular cutter.

The cutter rotates in a plane directly over the separator bar 31 and has associated with it a bifurcated wedge-shaped guide shoe 47 which is adapted to slide under the fabric and raise the same against the edge of the cutter (see Fig. 3). The guide shoe 47 is suspended from the carriage by a bar 48, piv oted at 49, and the fork portions of the pointed bifurcated end of the shoe are disposed at opposite sides of the lower edge of the cutter. The guide shoe has its lower surface slightly inclined longitudinally with reference to the separator bar 31, and this form of guide shoe, in conjunction with the resilient nature of the separator bar, will permit the cutter on its return stroke to pass over the fabric without injuring it or without interfering with its forward feeding movement. If desired the separator bar 31, instead of being arranged strictly horizontal, may be disposed at a downward inclination from the near to the far edge of the fabric, in which case, as will be apparent, the guide shoe will avoid contact with the separator bar except at the beginning of the cutting stroke. With such a downwardly inclined bar, the resilient property is not so important, altho even so it would be preferable to have the strip mounted for yielding at the near edge of the fabric in order thatthe guide shoe may more easily pass beneath the fabric.

In order to reciprocate the carriage 34, it is attached in any suitable manner to a link chain 50 which runs over the sprocket wheels 19 and 20. before referred to. As best shown in Figs. 12, 13 and 15, the sprocket wheel 20 is secured to a shaft 51 which is journaled in the spacing bracket 18, and said shaft has keyed to its rear end a pinion 52 which meshes with a rack bar 53. This rack bar is adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly in a vertical guide 54, through the medium of a pitman 55, the upper end of which is pivoted at 56 to the rack bar, and the lower end of which is pivoted at 57 to a crank 58. The crank 58 is rotatable with and by a gear 59 which meshes with a pinion 60, driven through reducing gearing 61 from a shaft 62. This shaft 62 is also journaled in the bracket 18 and carries, intermediate its ends, a pair of relatively spaced friction discs 63 and 64. A friction drive wheel 65 is disposed between the discs 63 and 64 and adapted to engage with either one or the other of them, it being mounted upon the end of a shaft 66 of an electric motor 67.

The motor 67 is secured to an adjustable base plate 68 which is slidable in dovetail guides 69, and which has a pin and slot connection at 70 with one arm of a bell-crank lever 71 (Fig. 14). This bell-crank lever 71 is disposed in a recess below the base plate 68, being pivoted at 72 to a shelf portion 73 of the bracket 18, and having its other arm extending outwardly beyond one side edge of the plate 68. Thus, by movement of the bell-crank lever 71, the 'motor 67 will be bodily shifted so that the friction wheel 65 will engage either one of the discs 63 or 64, or will be in a neutral position, disengaged from both of them. The purpose of such shifting is either to render the cutter carriage inoperative, or to reverse the direction of its movement at any point in its cutting stroke.

The position of the motor 67 and its drive wheel 65 may be selectively controlled by the attendant from his station at the opposite side of the machine. To this end, the outer arm of the bellcrank lever 71 is attached, as at 75, to one end of a link 76, the other end of which is pivotally connected, as at 77, to the lower end of a rocker arm 78, which is pivoted at 79 intermediate its ends to the bracket 18. The upper end of the rocker arm 78 is connected, as at 80, to the extremity of a push rod 81 which extends across the machine and within the channel member 15 to a position adjacent the attendants station near the hand wheel 30.

\Vhen the driving parts are in their intermediate or neutral positions, as shown 1n Figs. 12 and 13, the friction discs 63 and 64 andtheir shaft 62 are held against rotation by the engagement of a brake shoe 83 against the periphery of the disc 64. This brake shoe 83 is carried on the outer end of a lever 84, pivoted at 85 on the bracket 18, and is normally drawn toward the braking position by a tension spring 86. The inner end of the lever 84 is provided with an adjustable extension 87, whose upper edge is formed with a notch 88 in which a pin 89 on the rockerarm 78 is adapted to seat to define the neutral or braking position. As the rocker arm 78 is moved through the medium of the push rod 81, the pin 89 rides up out of the notch 88, pressing down on the edge of the lever 84, and rocking said lever about its pivot 85 to disengage the .brake shoe 83 against the action of spring 86. At the same time, the motor is shifted, as above explained, to effect engagement of the drive wheel 65 with either the disc 63 or 64.

When the driving connection is thus made, the carriage 34 is reciprocated back and forth across the conveyor, making its cutting stroke as it moves away from the front or operators side of the machine. Due to the use of the crank 58, the speed of movement of the carriage "aries, accelerating to a maximum at the middle of the stroke and decelerating to zero at the end of the stroke. This feature makes the cutting operation quite smooth and renders the machine substantially free from vibration.

The momentum of the carriage 34 is arrested at the end of its cutting and non-cutting strokes by means of shock absorbers 91 which extend upwardly adjacent the opposite ends of the channel member 15. Each of said shock absorbers comprises a casting 92 with a cylindrical bore 93, within which a piston 94 is slidable. The inner end of the cylindrical bore 93 is fitted with a guide 95' through which a'piston rod 96 slides, said piston rod having a head portion 97 which is arranged in the path of movement of a strap 98 on the carriage 34. The outer end of the bore 93 is in communication with the atmosphere through a restricted orifice 99, and serves to confine a coiled compression spring 100 which normally tends to push the piston 94 and its rod 96 inwardly toward the carriage. Thus, just before the carriage reaches the end of its stroke, the strap 98 comes in contact with the head portion 97, moving the piston outwardly against the spring 100 and generating pressure within the bore 93. In effect, the bore 93 and piston 94 constitute a dash-pot which, by arresting the momentum of the carriage, relieves the chain 50 of heavy reversing stresses. This is advantageous because, in the ordinary operation of the machine, the carriage will be reciprocating constantly without actually stopping at the end of each stroke.

As previously stated, the conveyor belt 28 may be intermittently operated through the medium of hand wheel 30 gr through automatic mechanism which will now be described. In actual practice, the automatic means will be employed to advance the fabric to approximately the correct position for cutting, and themanual means will be used, if necessary, for the final and exact setting.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 4 to 11 inclusive, it wi l be seen that a pressure cylinder 105 is mounted in fixed position at the front side of the main frame 10 and below the link chain 29. Slidable within the cylinder 105 is a piston 106 secured to one end of a piston rod 107, whose opposite end carries a crosshead 108 outside the cylinder. This crosshead is in the nature of a rectangular bar, one end of which extends upwardly beside the lower stretch of the chain, and

the other end of which extends downwardly beside the adjacent rail 11 of the main frame. Pivoted to the upper end of the crosshead 108 is a gravity-actuated pawl 109 which is adapted to engage one of the links of the lower stretch of the chain 29, whereby movement of the piston 106 toward the right will be transmitted to the chain in feeding the conveyor forward. In the movement of the crosshead in the reverse direction, however, the pawl merely rides idly over the chain links until the cross head comes to rest in its normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, at which time the pawl is lifted out of engagement with the chain by a stationary finger 110 on the fixed main frame. In the disengaged position of the pawl, the chain is of course free to be moved in either direction by means of the hand wheel 30.

Movement of the piston 106 to and fro in actuating the crosshead 108 is effected by the admission and exhaust of pressure fluid, such as compressed airQto and from the opposite ends of the cylinder 105, through pipes 111 and 112, under the control of a slide valve 113.

The valve 113 (best shown in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive) comprises a casing with a cylindrical barrel portion 114 secured to the side rail 11 of the main frame, and having a longitudinal bore lined by a fixed sleeve or bushing 115. At its front side, the interior of the barrel portion 114 is provided with three longitudinally spaced recesses 116, 117 and 118, with which the air pipes 111, 120 and 112 respectively communicate. The airpipes 111 and 112 lead to the opposite ends of the cylinder 105, as previously stated, while the pipe 120 leads from a suitable source of compressed air supply which may be alternately connected to and disconnected from the pipes 111 and 112 through the interior of the valve 113. In line with the recesses 116, 117 and 118, the sleeve 115 is provided with three series of radial ports 122, 123 and 124, as best shown in Figs. 7, 9 and 10. Also, the sleeve 115 and barrel portion 114 are provided at their lower side, and adjacent their opposite ends, with exhaust ports 125 and 126, which are open to the atmosphere.

Slidable within the sleeve 115 is a piston valve which, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a tubular core 127 on which is screwed or otherwise secured a pair of cylindrical mbmbers 128 and 129 separated by a spacer 130. The inner ends of said cylindri- 137, the length of which is sufficient to bridge two of the three series of ports 122, 123 and 124 (Fig. 10) and to cut off the other series. Thus, in one position of the parts (Fig. 6) the ports 122 and 123 are in communication through the annular recess 137, permitting air under pressure to flow from the supply pipe 120 through pipe 111 and into the left hand end of cylinder 105, causing the piston 106 to move to the right. At the same time, the right hand end of the cylinder 105 is vented through the pipe 112, annular groove 134, and port 126. In the other position of the parts (Fig. 10), the ports 123 and 124 are in communication through the annular chamber 137, permitting air under pressure to flow from the supply pipe 120 through pipe 112 to the right hand end of cylinder 105, causing the piston 106 to move to the left. At this time, the left hand end of cylinder 105 is vented through pipe 111, space 133, and port 125.

The piston valve is initially held in the position shown in Fig. 6 by the engagement of the flange 131 against a shoulder 140 on a latch 141 pivoted at 142 on the top of the barrel portion 114. At its extremity, the latch 141 is formed with a curved nose portion 143 which. in its holding position, is disposed in the path of a beveled surface 144 of a trip collar 145 carried on a slidable rod 146. Disposed between the flange 131 and the tri collar 145 is a compression spring 147. The rod 146 slides through the tubular core 127 in a direction parallel with the center of the cylinder 105, extending a substantial distance therebeyond. as best shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Another collar 148 is secured to the rod 146 at a suitable distance from the trip collar 145, whereby to facilitate movement of the piston valve by the rod toward the left. As shown in Figs. 4, 5. and 11, the rod 146 at the extreme right is attached to a piston 150 in a pressure cylinder 151 secured to the side rail 11 near the operators station at the hand wheel 30.

The cylinder 151 is normally supplied with air through a pipe 152 which leads from an automatic control 153 at the opposite side of the machine. This automatic control 153 (best shown in Fig. 16) comprises a box-like casing having internal partitions which define separate chambers 154, 155. and 156. A pair of poppet valves 157 and 158, mounted within the casing. permit or prevent communication between the chamber 155 and the chambers 154 and 156. said stems 159 and 160 which extend outwardly from the casing and are fitted with enlarged heads 161 and 162, between which and the casing wall are compression springs 163. The pipe 152 leads into the chamber 155, while a similar pipe 164 leads into the chamber 154*frorn the main air supply pipe B with which the pipe 120 of valve 113'is connected.

valves having Normally the valve 157 is closed and the valve 158 open, in which condition the chamber 155 is in communication with chamber 156 to per mit venting through an opening 165 in the side of the casing. Supply of air to the plpe 164 is under manual control through the medium of a normally closed valve 166 which may be opened by depression of a pedal 167 at the operators station (see Figs. 1, 4 and 5).

Pivoted at 168 between the outer ends of the valve stems 159 and 160 is a lever 169 which is adapted to swing in the common plane of said valve stems and which is provided with rollers 170 and 171 adapted to bear against the head portions 161 and 162. The lower end of this lever 169 is connected with a tension spring 172 whereby the lever is held in a tilted position, as indicated by full lines in Fig. 16, holding valve 158 open and permitting valve 157 to be closed by its spring 163. The upper end of the lever 169 is disposed in the path of movement of an adjustable stud 173 which projects from one side of the carriage portion 35. Consequently, as the carriage reaches the end of its cutting stroke, the stud 173 will engage the upper end of lever 167 and rock the same about its pivot 168 to the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 16 and by the full lines in Fig. 13. The valve 157 will then be opened and the valve 158 closed, permitting air to P fiow from chamber 154 through chamber 155 and out through pipe 152 to the cylinder 151. On the other hand, when the carriage starts its return stroke, the stud 173 breaks contact with the lever 167 and allows it to return to its original position to reverse the position of the two valves, and venting the cylinder 151 so as not to interfere with the subsequent operation of the rod 146 to which the piston 150 is attached.

As the compressed air enters the cylinder 151, it moves the piston 150 to the left, as shown in Figs. 4 and 11, carrying with it the rod 146 and moving the piston valve at 113 from its normal position at the right, as in Fig. 10, to the position at the left, as in Fig. 6. Air will now be supplied to the left-hand end of cylinder 105 as previously explained, causing the piston 106 to move to the right. As it does so, the crosshead 108 is moved by it in the same direction, and by engagement of the pawl 109 with one of the links of chain 29, the conveyor will be fed one step forward to advance the fabric material to the cutting position.

It is to be noted that the lower end of the crosshead108 is slidable on the rod 146 and is adapted to be arrested in its conveyor feeding movement by a stop member 175 secured to said rod 146 at a point between the crosshead 108 and the cylinder 151. The stop Inember175 may be set in different positions on the rod 146 to vary the throw of the crosshe'ad in altering the advance of the conveyor for different widths 'of bias strips. As the crosshead, in its movement, comes into engagement with the stop member 175, it carries the stop member before it, correspondingly moving the rod 146 and its piston 150 and collars 148 and 145. As the .collar 145 approaches the latch member 141, which in the meantime has been holding the valve 113 in the leftmost position shown in Fig. 6, the spring 147 becomes compressed. Then, when the beveled edge 144 finally raises the latch 141 to release the flange member 131, the valve will be moved to its original position at the right with a quick or snap action, whereupon air will be admitted to the right-hand end of cylinder 105, and vented from the other end of the cylinder. The piston 106 will thus be returned to the left-hand end of the cylinder, carrying with it the crosshead 108, and as it comes to rest at the left-hand end of its stroke, the pawl 109 will be raised out of engagement with the chain 29, leaving the conveyor free to be adjusted by the operation of the hand wheel 30.

The operation of the bias cutter will be clear from the foregoing description, but a brief recapitulation may be helpful. Assuming that the supplementary frame 13 has been adjusted to the proper angle for the desired cut, that the carriage 34 is at the operators side of the machine ready to start its cutting stroke, and that the fabric A is in position for the first cut, the operator will close certain switches (not shown) to supply electric current to the motors 43 and 67 for the operation of the rotary cutter 39 and the carriage drive wheel 65. The operator will then depress the pedal 167 and hold it down to turn on the air-pressure, at the same time pushing the rod 81 away from him to release the brake shoe 83 and shift the motor 67 so that the drive wheel will engage the disc 64 (the one usually employed for the regular drive). The disc 64 will thus be rotated, and through the gearing 61, 60, 59 and crank 58, the connecting rod will be driven to reciprocate the rack 53, which in turn oscillates the pinion 52. Movement of the pinion 52 is transmitted to the carriage by the sprocket 20 and chain 50, and as previously stated, the reciprocation of the carriage is synchronized with the throw of the cran one rotation of the crank producing one complete reciprocation of the carriage. The'carriage starts at slow speed but gradually accelerates to the center of the cutting stroke and then decelerates toward the end of the stroke, this variable speed of the carriage facilitating the cutting action and avoiding piling up of the fabric as the .rotary cutter enters and leaves the opposite edges of the fabric. As the end of the cutting stroke is reached, the stud 173 trips the lever 169 to automatically actuate the conveyor advancing mechanism, which will have ad- Vanced the'fabric to its next cutting position long before the carriage has completed its return stroke. When the pneumatic conveyor-actuating means has completed its cycle of operation, the attendant may, if desired, adjust the conveyor forward or backward by means of hand wheel 30 to accurate ly position the fabric for the next cut. Once started, the machine will operate entirely automatically and without requiring any attention on the part of the operator except as to the adjustment of the conveyor after each advance when desired or required. If at any time the cutter becomes entangled with the fabric, the operator may stop the carriage at once by disengaging the drive wheel 65 from the disc 64 through the control rod 86, and may then back-up the carriage to any extent desired by engaging the drive wheel 65 with the oppositedisc 63, which reverses the movement of the driving connections. So far as the conveyor is concerned, the operator may also exercise full control over its operation through the pedal 167, which when released instantly shuts off the air pressure from all the pneumatically operated parts.

Referring now particularlv to Figs. 1 and 17 to 21 inclusive, the fabric separating means will next be described. The rubberized fabric is wound up with a liner in a stock roll 200 which is rotatably mounted by means of trunnions 201 in open bearing blocks 20:! on upright side members 203 of a portable skid or frame 204. The rubberized fabric sheet A and the cloth liner C are drawn off the stock roll and separated by being passed around the opposite sides of a roller 205, after which the liner is wound up on a suitable arbor or roll 206, and the rubberized sheet carried over said roll 206 and delivered to the endless conveyor 28. Because of its action, the roll 206 will hereinafter be referred to as the feed roll. While it is not essential that the rubberized sheet A be passed over the feed roll, it is desirable to do so, because in that way the linear speed of the rubberized sheet is substantially the same as that of the liner, notwithstanding the fact that the speed of advance of the tWo sheets is gradually increased as the roll 206 increases in diameter by the continued winding of the liner thereon.

The feed roll 206 is journaled by means of trunnions 207 in bearing blocks 208, near the upper end of the side members 203, which are connected together by a brace or tie-rod 209. The separating roller 205 is similarly journaled in bearings 210 which are also secured to the side members 203. The location of the roller'205, in relation to the feed and stock rolls issuch that the liner C will be pulled away from the tacky fabric sheet A, while the latter is allowed to travel in a straight path from the stock roll 200 directly to the feed roll 206. As the liner is wound upon the feed roll and as the latter is rotated, the rub- 

